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How to get instagram dms on pc


How to Send Instagram DMs from Your Computer (PC or Mac)

Staring at your phone’s tiny screen and typing on its tiny keys to reply to each Instagram DM you receive is not the most efficient way to interact with your customers.

But those days are over.

As of 2020, any Instagram user in the world can send an Instagram DM online, from their PC or Mac, as well as from their phone.

*Sliding into your DMs*

Now you can get and send Instagram Direct messages on desktop, no matter where you are in the world 👍 pic.twitter.com/CT2SwuxHTv

— Instagram (@instagram) April 10, 2020

Now, your brand now has more options when replying to Instagram DMs. And considering more than 200 million users visit at least one business profile each day, there’s a good chance some Instagram users will reach out to your brand directly via DM.

What does “DM” mean on Instagram?

How to send Instagram DMs on your computer (PC or Mac)

How to send Instagram DMs from the Instagram app

How to send Instagram DMs using Hootsuite (on desktop and mobile)

How to delete Instagram DMs

8 best practices for sending and responding to Instagram DMs

Bonus: Save time and download 20 free, customizable Instagram DM templates for your brand, including greetings, partnership requests, FAQ responses, replies to complaints, and more.

What does “DM” mean on Instagram?

DM means direct messaging.

On Instagram, DMs are private messages between one Instagram user and another user, or group of users.

Instagram DMs don’t show up in your brand’s feed, profile or in search. And they won’t for your followers, either. Only you and those you are communicating with can see the direct messages.

On Instagram, DMs are sent by Instagram Direct. Think of this as an email inbox where private messages are collected.

On both desktop and mobile, access Instagram Direct to see your Instagram DMs by clicking on the paper airplane icon.

When you see a red numbered notification over the paper airplane icon, you’ll know there’s an unread DM to be read.

How to send Instagram DMs on your computer (PC or Mac)

Anyone with an Instagram account can create or reply to Instagram DMs from the browser version of the app, from a desktop computer, without any special downloads or features. This makes it easier for your brand to respond to an influx or high volume of DMs.

(If that high volume of DMs is coming from more than one Instagram account or several profiles across different social media platforms, you’re better off using a social media management tool like Hootsuite to handle DMs — more on that in the next section!)

Whether you’re replying to an Instagram DM on a PC or creating an Instagram DM on a Mac, the process is the same:

1. Log into your brand’s Instagram account

Log in to instagram.com using whichever web browser you prefer. There is no specific Instagram DM browser to use.

2. Click on the paper airplane icon

To navigate to Instagram Direct, click on the paper airplane icon in the web page’s top right hand corner.

3. See all your Instagram DMs

All your brand’s direct messages and interactions show here. Unread direct messages will show first in the list.

You’ll also see the option to create a new DM. Click on the blue Send Message button to begin a new interaction.

Type in a user’s handle to begin a new one-on-one interaction. You can message any brand or user that you follow.

Or create a group for an Instagram DM. On Instagram Direct, you can send DMs to up to 32 people.

From your desktop, you can also like, copy or report a DM by clicking on the three buttons next to the Instagram DM.

4. Send other users’ content

As well as written messages, Instagram DMs can include photos, polls, GIFs, Instagram Stories and IGTV clips. Your brand might want to interact with users by sharing other users’ content in a DM.

Navigate to the photo, video or IGTV you want to share privately. Click on the paper airplane icon under that post.

Then, select how you want to share that content.

By clicking on Share to Direct, you can type in the Instagram user you want to send the content to directly via Instagram DM.

How to send Instagram DMs from the Instagram app

Sending Instagram DMs from the Instagram app is just as easy:

1.

Open the app on your phone

Download the Instagram app from the App Store or Google Play.

2. Click on the paper airplane icon

This will open all your Instagram DMs.

3. Engage with your users

Reply to customers’ queries by tapping on the unread message and writing a response in the Message bar.

And just like on desktop, you can choose one-on-one DMs or send to a group of up to 32.

4. Share others’ content

Any time you see the paper airplane icon, click on it to send that content privately.

Bonus: Save time and download 20 free, customizable Instagram DM templates for your brand, including greetings, partnership requests, FAQ responses, replies to complaints, and more.

Download now

How to send Instagram DMs using Hootsuite (on desktop and mobile)

If you manage more than one Instagram account or your brand receives DMs on more than one social media platform, a social media management tool like Hootsuite can save you a lot of time.  

With Hootsuite, you can answer messages and comments from all of your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts in one social inbox. No more clicking through countless browser tabs to check for new DMs, or accidentally forgetting to respond until customers get fed up.

To start answering Instagram DMs using Hootsuite, follow these simple steps:

1. Connect (or re-connect) your Instagram profiles

If you’re new to Hootsuite, follow this guide to add an Instagram account to your dashboard.

If you’ve previously used Hootsuite for Instagram analytics or scheduling, but you haven’t connected Instagram with the Hootsuite Inbox yet, follow these steps to re-connect your account. 

In both cases, you will be prompted to follow a few simple steps to authenticate your account. 

Once you’re done, make sure that your Instagram profile settings allow sharing messages with your Hootsuite account:

  1. Go to Settings and tap Privacy.
  2. Tap Messages.
  3. In Connected Tools, use the Allow Access to Messages switch to enable sharing.

Note: Hootsuite Inbox is compatible with Instagram Business accounts.

2. Go to your Hootsuite Inbox

In your Hootsuite dashboard, navigate to the Inbox. 

Here, you can see interactions from your connected Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts. 

The Inbox collects 4 types of Instagram messages: 

  • Direct messages
  • Replies to your Instagram Stories
  • Quick reactions to your Stories
  • Mentions of your account in other users’ Stories

3. Reply to Instagram DMs

All that’s left is to engage with your followers. 

Follow these social media customer service best practices to make sure your message responses are always on fleek. (Does anyone say on fleek anymore? Asking for a Millennial friend.) 

If you’re part of a team managing social media DMs, you can easily assign messages to other team members (who will be notified by email) and sort your inbox by assignment, social network, message type and date. 

How to delete Instagram DMs

Depending on your brand’s social media policy, you may want to delete Instagram DMs.

To delete Instagram DMs from your PC or Mac:

1. Navigate to Instagram Direct

Click on the paper airplane icon in the top navigation bar.

2. Click on the communication you want to delete

Then click on the information icon by the user’s profile picture.

3. Click Delete Chat

That will bring up this screen:

Then, you can choose to Delete Chat. This will only delete the conversation for you. It will still be visible for the others included in the conversation.

Also under the “Details” section, there is also the option to Block, Report or Mute Messages. Muting simply means you won’t get notifications for new incoming DMs for this conversation.

To delete Instagram DMs using the mobile app:

1. Navigate to Instagram Direct

Click on the paper airplane icon in the navigation bar.

2. Swipe or hold the communication thread you want to delete

If you’re using iOS, swipe left on the message you want to delete. If you’re using Android, press and hold the thread you want to delete.

This brings up two options. Mute the message to stop seeing new notifications for this thread. Or delete the message.

3. Click Delete

This action will only delete the conversation for you.

8 best practices for sending and responding to Instagram DMs

Engaging with your customers and responding to Instagram DMs is just one way to effectively use Instagram for business and gain more Instagram followers.

Here are some essential tips to keep in mind.

Set up notifications for Instagram DMs

Make sure your brand sees all the new, incoming Instagram DMs that it receives.

On both desktop and mobile, navigate to Settings. Choose Notifications (or Push Notifications if you’re on desktop).

Then under Direct Messages, make sure the From Everyone (if you’re working on desktop) options are selected.

And make sure all the On (if you’re working on mobile) options are selected. This will ensure your brand sees all its new incoming DMs.

Use Instagram Quick Replies

Chances are, your brand is going to get a lot of similar questions over Instagram Direct. Instead of typing out the same reply, save time by making the most of the Instagram Quick Replies feature.

Set up a Creator Account with Instagram. Not only will this enable the Quick Replies feature, it will provide more options for organizing and managing your Instagram DMs, like the two-tab inbox.

Find Quick Replies as an option under Settings. To create a Quick Reply:

  • Click on the “+” button in the top right hand corner.
  • Type out a reply to a commonly asked question.
  • Choose a one-word keyboard shortcut for that message.

When replying to an Instagram DM, type the one word into Instagram Direct. Click the blue “Insert a quick reply” button” and the full response you’ve saved will autofill.

Acknowledge when a new message has been received

That way, even if your team isn’t able to respond to the direct message immediately, your customer isn’t met with silence.

You might:

  • Thank the customer for getting in touch.
  • Let them know their message has been received.
  • Set an expectation for how long it will take the team to get to their query.

This helps foster a relationship between the user and your brand. It also boosts customer service, setting expectations for when that customer can expect a conversation with your brand.

Then follow up promptly

Don’t leave your customers hanging!

And the faster your brand can reply, the better. According to the analysis and advisory firm Convince & Convert, 42% of customers who complain to a company over social media expect a response within 60 minutes.

Waiting too long to reply to a customer could result in them losing trust in your brand.

Write in your brand voice

Whatever your brand’s tone, be sure to use that same voice in your Instagram DMs.

Remember to:

  • Be authentic and personable. Show your customer they’re interacting with a real person who cares about their experience with your brand.
  • Don’t use jargon. Avoid using these words and phrases.
  • Make sure communication is easy to understand. Irony, sarcasm and jokes might be misinterpreted by the reader or cause offence. Leave no room for misinterpretation.

Make sure there are no spelling mistakes

Make sure your writing reflects your brand in a professional way.

Check for typos, spelling mistakes and grammar errors. Read over your DM for flow. And if your company manages multiple brands and has multiple Instagram accounts, make sure you’re working with the right account.

Keep your writing short and sweet

If someone is reaching out to your brand directly, they want an answer quickly. So avoid the chit-chat. Get right to it.

Address your customers’ DM right away. Write in a way that is easy to read. Write short sentences.

And don’t fear short paragraphs.

Doing all this makes it easier for customers to find the answer to their query.

Don’t forget to sign off

Finally, bring closure to the conversation by:

  • Asking the customer if there’s anything else they need help with.
  • Thanking them for their business or loyalty to your company.
  • Wishing them a great day.

Closing off is a personable way to communicate, but also ensures your customer doesn’t feel snubbed or shut down before the conversation is over.

Improve your response time and efficiently engage with followers by responding to Instagram direct messages alongside all your other social messages in Hootsuite Inbox. Try it free today.

Get Started

Improve your response times by managing Instagram direct messages with Hootsuite Inbox.

Try it free

How to Send and Receive DMs on Instagram From a Computer

  • You can DM on Instagram from your computer using any internet browser.
  • To send direct messages from your computer, head to the Instagram website and click the paper plane icon in the top-right.
  • This story is part of Business Insider's Guide to Instagram.

In April 2020, Instagram added the ability to send direct messages to its desktop website. 

This means that Instagram users can now send direct messages, photos, gifs, and other kinds of media, as well as start group chats, unsend messages, and reply to chats using reactions, right from their desktop. 

However, some direct message features — like video chats — only remain available In the mobile app version.  

Here's how to use the direct message feature on Instagram using your desktop computer. 

How to send a direct message on Instagram from a computer 

1. Using your preferred internet browser, go to the Instagram desktop website and log in.

2. Once you've logged in, select the paper plane icon in the top-right corner to access Direct Messages. 

You can access your direct messages from any page. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

3. You'll be shown all of your active conversations. Click one to open it, or start a new one by clicking "Send Message" or the pencil-and-paper icon.

There are two ways to start a new conversation. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

4. When starting a new conversation, begin typing in the name or username of the person you want to message, or select an account from the list of "Suggested" users. 

5. Type your message into the text box at the bottom, and then select "Send."

You can also press Enter or Return to send it. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

Once you've sent a message, you can click the three dots next to it and then click "Unsend" to take the message back.  

Once you unsend a message, the message will be removed from the chat, no matter if the recipient has seen it or not. There's no time limit for unsending messages on Instagram. 

You can "Unsend" a message at any time. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

You can also delete an entire chat conversation by clicking the "i" icon in the top-right, and then selecting "Delete chat." Note, however, that this only deletes the chat on your end — the recipient will still be able to see it.

This will delete every message in the conversation — on your end. Meira Gebel/Business Insider

  • How to clear the Instagram cache on your iPhone to free up storage space


  • How to add Story Highlights on your Instagram profile in 7 simple steps

  • How to disable comments on Instagram on a post-by-post basis

  • How to add a location on your Instagram story to share it with your followers

  • How to add a GIF to your Instagram Story using GIPHY

William Antonelli and Kerry Wan contributed to a previous version of this article.

Meira Gebel

Meira Gebel is a freelance reporter based in Portland, Oregon. She writes about business, culture, and technology for Insider. Her work has been featured in Digital Trends, Willamette Week, USA Today, and more. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and San Francisco State University.  Feel free to reach out to her on Twitter, where she can be found most of the time, @MeiraGebel.

Read moreRead less

how to respond to dms on instagram?

By Milena Anderson Reading 4 min. Views 4 Posted by

Short answer

  1. First, be aware that dms (private message spam) is a common problem on Instagram. nine0014
  2. This can happen when someone posts multiple spam messages in a row on your account and you may not be aware of it.
  3. If you see this happening to your account, try these tips:

how to respond to additional emojis in an Instagram direct message

How to respond to an Instagram post with DIFFERENT EMOJI (Android/iPhone)

Yoast FAQ

How to edit quick reactions on Instagram?

There are several ways to edit quick reactions on Instagram. You can press and hold a reaction to select multiple reactions and then click Trim. You can also swipe left or right to change the order of your reactions.

How to change the color of your heart on Instagram DM?

Instagram has a feature where you can change the color of your heart in DM. To do this, open the message you want to edit and click on the three lines in the top left corner. Then select "Edit Post". On the Fonts tab, click the Color button and select the color you want. nine0003

What is Disappear Mode on Instagram?

Disappear Mode is an Instagram feature that hides posts from your profile for a specified amount of time. You can choose how long the hiding lasts, as well as react to hidden messages while they are hidden.

Why are my private messages black?

There is no single answer to this question, as it may vary depending on the race and ethnicity of the Master. However, some possible explanations include that Masters of different races or nationalities may face unique challenges in their roles, or that certain races or ethnic groups are more likely to be appointed as Masters. nine0003

Why is my Instagram text bubble blue?

Instagram uses a blue bubble to indicate that the text is a comment.

How do you get different reactions on Instagram?

There are several things you can do to get different reactions on Instagram. First, make sure your posts are interesting and engaging. Second, use hashtags to get people talking about your posts. And finally, use filters and effects to spice up your photos. nine0003

Does Instagram DMS work?

Yes, Instagram DMS is working. However, there are some restrictions on their use. For example, you can only use them for posts that have been edited on Instagram since the feature was introduced in August 2017. Also, DMS is not available for video.

What is the latest version of instagram?

Yes, Instagram DMS is working. However, there are some restrictions on their use. For example, you can only use them for posts that have been edited on Instagram since the feature was introduced in August 2017. Also, DMS is not available for video. nine0003

How do you get new features on Instagram?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the process for requesting new features on Instagram can vary depending on the type of feature requested. However, some tips on how to get new features on Instagram include submitting a suggestion or idea to the company's internal team of professionals, and following the company's guidelines and feedback guidelines when submitting suggestions.

How do you respond to a post on Instagram 2022? nine0003

Hello! Thank you for your feedback. Instagram does not have a feature that allows users to post about future dates. We hope this information was helpful to you.

How do you update the DMS on Instagram?

To update DMS on Instagram, open the Instagram app and go to “Settings” (three lines in the top left corner). Click "Instagram Stories" and then click the "Update Now" button.

How do I reply to a specific Instagram message on Iphone? nine0003

There is no specific way to reply to a specific Instagram post on iPhone. However, you can easily access the Messages app and reply to a message there.

How do I reply to a message directly?

Hello! Thank you for your feedback. Sorry, but I don't know how to reply to a direct message.

How do you like the emoji in your Instagram private messages?

I love them! They are so fun and easy to use. I don't think I've ever had an Instagram conversation that didn't include at least one emoji. nine0003

How do you super react on Instagram?

Instagram is a great platform for sharing photos and videos with friends and family. However, sometimes you may want to superreact to a photo or video. Here are four ways to superreact on Instagram:
Click on the photo or video you want to superreact to, then select Superreact.
Click on the three lines in the upper left corner of the Superreact screen, then select "Superreact with Text".
3.

nine0000 how to clear all dms on instagram?

By Milena Anderson Reading 4 min. Views 4 Posted by

Short answer

  1. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the way you clear all your Instagram private messages depends on the specific version of the app you're using. nine0014
  2. However, a few general tips include checking your app's settings to see if there's an option to delete all messages at once, or to manually delete each message one at a time.

    3. ol >

    How to Delete All Instagram Messages at Once (2020) ✅ Delete All Instagram Messages FAST!

    How to delete all messages on Instagram at once (2021)

    Can Instagram workers see your private messages? nine0003

    Yes, Instagram employees can see your private messages. This is because they have access to your account in order to provide support. However, they are not allowed to use this information for any other purpose.

    Can someone take a screenshot in fade mode?

    Yes, someone can take a screenshot in disappear mode. However, the person will not be able to see the screenshot taken.

    Is the disappearance mode safe? nine0003

    There is no single answer to this question. Some people say disappear mode is safe, while others think it can be risky. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal preference and how comfortable you feel when using this feature.

    Disappear mode is for cheaters?

    There is no single answer to this question because it depends on the individual's definition of infidelity. For some, using fade mode can be considered cheating as it gives them an unfair advantage over opponents. For others, it may not be considered a scam if they don't use any outside tools or help to help them win. nine0003

    How far back can Instagram posts go?

    Instagram messages are stored in the application database for up to 30 days. After that, they are automatically deleted.

    Where do remote DMSs go?

    Deleted DMSs (direct messages) are placed in the “deleted messages” folder. This is a hidden folder that is not visible to the user. Messages are automatically deleted after a certain amount of time (usually 30 days).

    How long do Instagram DMSs last?

    Instagram DMS are kept for a period of time determined by the company. However, messages are usually deleted after a certain amount of time.

    Does the disappear mode delete the message on both sides?

    Yes, when you enable disappear mode in a chat, both participants' messages will be deleted after the specified time. This is a great way to keep your conversations private and secure.

    Are messages deleted when someone is blocked on Instagram? nine0003

    Yes, when you block someone on Instagram, their messages are deleted..

    What happens if I delete an Instagram conversation?

    If you delete an Instagram conversation, the other person in the conversation will not be notified. The conversation will be removed from both of your accounts.

    What is Disappear Mode on Instagram?

    Disappear Mode is an Instagram feature that allows you to temporarily hide your account from other users. This is useful if you want to take a break from Instagram or if you're going to be inactive for a while. To turn on fade mode, go to your profile and tap on the three dots in the top right corner. Select "Settings" and then "Account". Turn on "disappear mode" and your account will be hidden from other users. nine0003

    Are Instagram messages permanently deleted?

    Instagram posts are not deleted permanently. However, after a certain time they are deleted.

    How to remove Instagram DMS from both sides?

    To delete an Instagram Direct message from both sides, first open the message on the sender's phone. Then press and hold the message and select Delete. Click "Delete" again to confirm. To delete a message on the recipient's phone, open the conversation and press and hold the message. Click "Delete" and then "Delete" again to confirm. nine0003

    How to mass delete Instagram DMS 2022?

    To bulk uninstall Instagram DMS 2022, you first need to open the DMS app. Then select the messages you want to delete and then click on the trash can icon. Finally, click "delete" to confirm.

    How to remove all DMS on Instagram 2022?

    To delete all DMS in Instagram 2022, you need to open your DMS inbox first. Once you open your inbox, you will need to select all messages by clicking the Select All button in the top left corner of the screen.

    Learn more